Improving Cowboys Again Will Be Super

Warner Hessler

As far as I'm concerned, we can call off the 1993 National Football League season right now and mail the Super Bowl XXVI-II trophy to the Dallas Cowboys.

As good as you thought they were last season, when they went 16-3 and crushed Buffalo in the title game, they are even better this year.

They have the best owner, the best coach, the best quarterback, the best back-up quarterback, the best receivers, the best offensive line, the second-best running back, the best defensive line, the third-best linebackers ...

Whew! That's a mouthful, but it's true. The Cowboys have built a football monster that gets better every week.

But what makes me think you can call off the season is the Cowboys' attitude. They have a championship attitude.

Last week, before the big showdown with the New York Giants, several of the Giants were quoted as saying Dallas was ``beatable.'' Linebacker Corey Miller even said the Giants could win by running the ball and controlling the clock.

The Cowboys held their collective tongues until after their overwhelming 31-6 victory. Then they did a monumental psych job on future opponents who think they can handle Dallas this year.

``The Giants started a fire and didn't know how to put it out,'' said defensive back James Washington. ``We are not to be messed with. If we are hitting on all cylinders and then we have the added push from somebody trashing us, you are in trouble.''

Now, if I'm a player and the Cowboys are on my schedule, I'm going to watch my mouth for fear of getting them riled up. In doing so, though, I'm going to know deep down that I'm afraid of these guys. Not physically, of course, but as a team.

Last Sunday's easy victory against strong and physical New York sent a signal and a warning to the rest of the league. The signal is that the Cowboys are unbeatable, and the warning is that they will make the foolish pay for displays of false bravado.

I respect owner Jerry Jones for the job he has done in restoring the pride to Dallas football, and I admire the way the Cowboys play the game.

For the life of me, though, I still can't stomach Coach Jimmy Johnson's arrogance.

After last Sunday's game, a New York writer took note of injuries that have plagued other teams in the NFC East and suggested that one of the keys to Dallas' success was its good fortune to stay healthy.

Johnson became angry at the remark and hinted that his players come from stronger stock.

``People talk about us not having a lot of injuries,'' Johnson shot back. ``We had a lot of injuries, but our guys play with injuries. They won't allow themselves to get hurt until the season ends.''

``We're very strong guys,'' said linebacker Ken Norton.

Baloney. When reserve tackle Leon Lett went down in October with a fractured ankle that forced him to miss four games, it was the Cowboys' first major injury in two years.

Quarterback Troy Aikman may miss one game with a pulled hamstring, and Norton has not missed a lick with a torn bicep. But that has been it. The Cowboys have been injury-free.

Johnson aside, there are a lot of reasons to like the Cowboys this year. I don't mean like them as a favorite team, but like them as the Super Bowl XXVIII champion.

They have too many weapons on the field, a champions' attitude off of it, and they have been lucky in terms of avoiding season-ending injuries to key players.

Greed and the salary cap may destroy this team, but not this year. We could call this thing off right now.